Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd

Exhibition Road

Client: The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Value: £25 million

Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering is transforming Exhibition Road in London into the most accessible cultural destination in the world.

This innovative scheme, being carried out on behalf of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, City of Westminster and Transport for London, will deliver the visionary new design by transforming the 800 metre road from South Kensington to Hyde Park into 20,000m² of ‘shared space'.

The first phase of works involved unravelling the one-way traffic system around South Kensington and provides improved pedestrian open space around the station.

One interesting characteristic of the road when it is transformed will be the absence of street clutter, such as conventional traffic signals, barriers, signs and kerbs.  This encourages the motorists to slow down and engage with the pedestrians creating a more safe and secure environment for all.

Home to world-class cultural and academic institutions and major national museums, the renewal of Exhibition Road will enhance the accessibility and historic asset of the area.  

The introduction of a ‘shared space' streetscape where pedestrians and vehicular traffic share a single surface is at the leading edge of urban transport design.

Every year 11 million people visit the Exhibition Road area and the changes implemented now will have a lasting effect on the safety and enjoyment of this magnificent street for visitors and residents alike.

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